You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them ontime (no later than Sunday, February 25 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0. You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
Reflect on the following questions and answer them in some detail.
1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue?
After discussing in class I think the general consensus would be to set this play in a Proscenium theater. This type of theater is looking straights ahead and considering what we talked about in class I think the best way to stage this play would to show Uncle Peck and Lil Bit in the car and then change the outside scenery to represent the different parts of the play. Since the play is titled "How I learned to drive" I think it would be appropriate to have the characters in the car the majority of the time and when things change for example when she goes to college Uncle Peck can hop out and then it can be focused on Lil Bit in the car. The mailman can walk up to the car and drop off all of Uncle Peck's letters and gifts and things through the car window to lil bit. Though this seems extreme I think it can also show how she didn't slow down for him. She kept growing and kept moving away. The audience will get use to seeing Lil Bit alone and taking charge of driving by herself so when they two characters get back together it will seem unnerving and almost like something that should be left in the past. I also think to really get the point across about what point of the play we are at we can change the outside scenery that is moving past the car. When she is in college it can be college buildings and dorm halls. When she is with Uncle Peck it can be woods and nature. This would help tie in differences to the audiences mind.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
The obvious design challenge is figuring out how to get or make a car on stage. Then another one would be trying to figure out how to make the scenery pass the car by. We do not want the stage to get too borrowing or repetitive because then you lose the audience. I therefore think the majority of the play should be in the car but maybe the last bit not. That way when Lil Bit leaves Uncle Peck we can see how she has grown up and out away from his influence. This can be symbolism as she leaves the car. Also, as discussed, I think drawing a road would be a difficult point as well.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
I see Uncle Peck dressed in a lousy ill fitted suit. Maybe a brown color with a nasty ugly tie. I think this ties him a bit to the creepy stereotype. He will come across as ill dressed, creepy, unprofessional, washed out, etc. I see Lil bit in maybe a floral romper or jean shorts and a t shirt. Something childish. I think this is necessary because we need to make her seem young and inexperiences. Seeing as this story is based on Pedophilia it is important to strike a major difference between the two for the audience to pick up on. Then as lil bit grows older her outfit can change to maybe a dress and heels. Something that shows her off as a growing woman and also shows her as being in charge of her life and sexual life. She is no longer influenced by this man. Something that screams independent.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I think light should centered on our car at first. This will allow these two characters to be focused on throughout the play. As the play draws to a close and lil bit separates herself from her Uncle I would like to see the light go brightly on her and shadow out on him. Then as she tells her story about how drank himself to death the light can slowly disappear from uncle peck all together.
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
The author said she wanted music played throughout the entire play but to be quite honest I see this play as not having any music. I know that sounds silly and I know music sets the tone for the play, but I think this play discusses such an important issue. I think music can sooth people sometimes and I do not want them to be soothed. I want the audience to feel something from this play. The sound effects could be of the car door slamming, lots of busy noises when Lil Bit gets to school, etc. Things like that would need to be added to add dramatic gestures to the play itself. I would not play music throughout it though. If I were to direct this play and play some music I would put it at the end when she is talking about her uncle's death.
You may earn a maximum of 3 points toward your final grade by doing the above and answering the questions and submitting them ontime (no later than Sunday, February 25 on or before 12:01am). Any worksheets submitted after the deadline will get a 0.
You will be rewarded a maximum of 3 points if I judge your work to be above average. You will receive 2 points if your work is average, that is it may have a few minor mistakes in some of the answers but demonstrates correct grammar and indicates that some, but not all, of the answers, are acceptable and well expressed. You will earn only 1 point if you simply answered the questions and/or if you use poor grammar and if there are signs that you have not read the material on which your answers are based.
Reflect on the following questions and answer them in some detail.
1. Which of the possible venues do you think would best suit this play? Why do you believe the dramatic action would be best served in this venue?
After discussing in class I think the general consensus would be to set this play in a Proscenium theater. This type of theater is looking straights ahead and considering what we talked about in class I think the best way to stage this play would to show Uncle Peck and Lil Bit in the car and then change the outside scenery to represent the different parts of the play. Since the play is titled "How I learned to drive" I think it would be appropriate to have the characters in the car the majority of the time and when things change for example when she goes to college Uncle Peck can hop out and then it can be focused on Lil Bit in the car. The mailman can walk up to the car and drop off all of Uncle Peck's letters and gifts and things through the car window to lil bit. Though this seems extreme I think it can also show how she didn't slow down for him. She kept growing and kept moving away. The audience will get use to seeing Lil Bit alone and taking charge of driving by herself so when they two characters get back together it will seem unnerving and almost like something that should be left in the past. I also think to really get the point across about what point of the play we are at we can change the outside scenery that is moving past the car. When she is in college it can be college buildings and dorm halls. When she is with Uncle Peck it can be woods and nature. This would help tie in differences to the audiences mind.
2. What are some of the design challenges posed by the play?
The obvious design challenge is figuring out how to get or make a car on stage. Then another one would be trying to figure out how to make the scenery pass the car by. We do not want the stage to get too borrowing or repetitive because then you lose the audience. I therefore think the majority of the play should be in the car but maybe the last bit not. That way when Lil Bit leaves Uncle Peck we can see how she has grown up and out away from his influence. This can be symbolism as she leaves the car. Also, as discussed, I think drawing a road would be a difficult point as well.
3. Choose the various chorus characters and discuss how you see them dressed. In what ways do you think the costumes you describe would help articulate their purpose in this play?
I see Uncle Peck dressed in a lousy ill fitted suit. Maybe a brown color with a nasty ugly tie. I think this ties him a bit to the creepy stereotype. He will come across as ill dressed, creepy, unprofessional, washed out, etc.
I see Lil bit in maybe a floral romper or jean shorts and a t shirt. Something childish. I think this is necessary because we need to make her seem young and inexperiences. Seeing as this story is based on Pedophilia it is important to strike a major difference between the two for the audience to pick up on. Then as lil bit grows older her outfit can change to maybe a dress and heels. Something that shows her off as a growing woman and also shows her as being in charge of her life and sexual life. She is no longer influenced by this man. Something that screams independent.
4. Provide some ideas about the use of light in the play?
I think light should centered on our car at first. This will allow these two characters to be focused on throughout the play. As the play draws to a close and lil bit separates herself from her Uncle I would like to see the light go brightly on her and shadow out on him. Then as she tells her story about how drank himself to death the light can slowly disappear from uncle peck all together.
5. Suggest music and sound effects that could help accentuate the mood or atmosphere of the play.
The author said she wanted music played throughout the entire play but to be quite honest I see this play as not having any music. I know that sounds silly and I know music sets the tone for the play, but I think this play discusses such an important issue. I think music can sooth people sometimes and I do not want them to be soothed. I want the audience to feel something from this play. The sound effects could be of the car door slamming, lots of busy noises when Lil Bit gets to school, etc. Things like that would need to be added to add dramatic gestures to the play itself. I would not play music throughout it though. If I were to direct this play and play some music I would put it at the end when she is talking about her uncle's death.